The World’s 10 Oldest Airlines - KLM Blog KLM Blog With its 95-year history, KLM is the oldest international airline still flying under its original name. How many other pioneer carriers can say the same? Here’s the 10 oldest airlines in a row for you. Nr 1. KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919. In 1920, pilot Jerry Shaw captained the first KLM flight, flying from London to Schiphol in a De Havilland DH-16. The KLM Group, which includes the wholly owned subsidiaries KLM Cityhopper, transavia.com and Martinair, currently employs more than 32.000 people. Nr 2. Qantas Qantas was established in Australia in 1920. The first flight took place in 1922 with an Armstrong Whitworth FK8 flying from Longreach to Cloncurry in Australia. Today, Qantas has a workforce of 35.000. Nr 3. Czech Airlines Czechoslovak State Airlines was established in 1923 and has been operating under the name Czech Airlines since 1995.

Its first flight was a 321-kilometre trip with an Aero A-14 (Brandenburg) biplane in 1923. Today, Czech Airlines has 1,017 employes. Nr 4. Lufthansa Lufthansa was established in 1926, following a merger between Deutsche Aero Lloyd (DAL) and Junkers Luftverkehr. It operated its first flight in that same year with a Fokker F-11, taking off from Berlin-Tempelhof for Zurich. In 1953, Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf (LUFTAG) acquired the Deutsche Lufthansa brand name and thereafter operated under that name. Lufthansa is a superpower in the airline industry, with 117,000 employees and numerous subsidiaries including Air Dolomiti, Swiss International Airlines, Eurowings, Augsburg Airways and Contact Air. Nr 5. Iberia Iberia was established in 1927. Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana, operated its first flight that same year from Madrid to Barcelona with a Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland.

Iberia merged with British Airways in 2011 and today employs a workforce of 18,000. Nr 6. Delta Delta Air Lines was formed in 1928 and today has 80,000 employees. Its head office is located in Atlanta. Delta’s first passenger flight took place in 1929 with a Travel Air S-6000B, flying from Dallas to Monroe. Delta merged with Northwest Airlines in 2010 and participated in a joint venture with Air France, KLM and Alitalia. Nr. 7 Aeroflot Aeroflot was founded in 1932 in Russia (then the Soviet Union) as Grazhdansky Vozdushny Flot (‘civil aviation’). Aeroflot was formed through a partnership between three airlines: Dobrolet, Zakavia and Ukrvozdukhput. Dobrolet operated its first flight from Morcow to Nizhiny Novgorod in 1923. The Aeroflot head office is located in Moscow. The Aeroflot Group has a workforce of over 30,000.

Its current subsidiaries include Aurora, Donavia, Dobrolet, Rossiya Airlines and Orenair. Nr. 8 Air France Air France was extablished in 1933, following a merger between the five French airlines Air Union, Air Orient, Société Générale de Transport Aérien (SGTA), CIDNA and Aéropostale. SGTA’s first flight took place in 1919, with a Farman F.60 ‘Goliath’ Flying from Toussus-le-Noble to Kenley (near Croydon in the UK). Air France has its head office in Paris. In 2004, Air France became part of the AIR France KLM group. It currently has a workforce of over 69,000 people. Nr. 9 American Airlines American Airlines was founded in 1934, when its predecessors Aviation Corporation and American Airways formed a partnership. It operated its first cargo flight (mail) from Chicago to Saint Louis in 1926, with a DH-4 biplane. American Airlines is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and has 80,987 employees.

In 2013, American Airlines merged with US Airways Group and continued under the name American Airlines Group. Nr. 10 Aer Lingus Aer Lingus was founded in 1936. The airline had only one aircraft at the time, named ‘iolar’ (Eagle). The first flight operated with the iolar was from Baldonnel in Dublin to Bristol UK in 1936. The present Aer Lingus head office is located at Dublin Airport. Aer Lingus has a workforce of 4,000. Illustrations: Allan Grotjohann Oldest Airlines in the World - Aviation History Month :: Routesonline Oldest Airlines in the World - Aviation History Month Oldest Airlines in the World - Aviation History Month Share Follow @routesonline 6,181 followers November has arrived, which means it is Aviation History Month! To coincide with the event, Routesonline delved into the history of some of the world’s oldest airlines, and chose some of our favourite historical photos.

Beginning with one of the first ever airlines (KLM), we took a look at the first 20 years of commercial aviation, and some of the airlines that were founded between 1920 and 1940. KLM KLM is the oldest running airline still operating under its original name. The airline was founded on October 7, 1919 as ‘Dutch Royal Airlines for the Netherlands and its Colonies’ (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij voor Nederland en Koloniën) – KLM. The first flight by the airline was piloted by Jerry Shaw and it flew from Croydon Airport, London to Amsterdam on May 7, 1920 in a leased De Havilland DH-16. PH-AJU KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Douglas DC-2 [Image by KLM ] Qantas Qantas is Australia’s largest airline, and the second oldest airline in the world, founded in November 1920.

In 1921, the airlines’ fleet consisted of two biplanes, one Avro 504K with a 100 horsepower water-cooled engine and a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2E with a 90 horsepower air-cooled engine. Qantas began to operate a scheduled airmail service in November 1922 between Charleville and Cloncurry, and this became the first scheduled air service for the airline. Qantas operated its first overseas passenger flight in February 1935 from Brisbane to Singapore using its four-engine DH86 aircraft. Economy class cabin of a Qantas Boeing 747B in the early 1970s. [Image by Qantas ] Finnair Finnair, which was founded in 1923, is the fifth oldest airline in the world with continuous operation. The airline was originally founded under the name ‘Aero Yhtiö’ (Aero Company) which is where the airlines’ code ‘AY’ originates from.

Aero took delivery of its first aircraft, a German-registered Junkers F 13 D-335, on 14 March 1924, and its maiden commercial flight was on 20 March 1924, when it carried 162 kilos of mail from Helsinki to Tallinn. Finnair inauguration flight to London Heathrow airport August 29th, 1954. [Image by Finnair ] Czech Airlines Czech Airlines was founded in 1923 as Czechoslovak State Airlines and completed its first transport from Prague to Bratislava on October 29 of the same year. On the 1st July 1930, CSA operated its first international flight with a Ford 5AT plane on from Prague to the Croatian capital, Zagreb. It was in 1937 when Czech Airlines introduced cabin attendants on board to improve the passenger experience. Czech Airlines Tupolev Tu-104.

[Image by Czech Airlines ] Icelandair Icelandair was originally founded in 1937 under the name Flugfélag Akureyrar, before becoming grounded again in 1939 after a capsizing accident destroyed the airlines’ only aircraft. The airline was re-launched in 1940 under the name ‘Flugfélag Íslands’ but was often referred to as Iceland Airways for international purposes. The airline did not adopt its current name until 1979 when it merged with Loftleiðir. Icelandair Pilots 1942. [Image by Icelandair ] You can follow the tweets below via the hashtag #AviationHistoryMonth to see what else is going on in the world of aviation history, and follow us at @Routesonline @ What Is The Oldest Airline Flying Today? - Airliners.net Airliners.net Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:36 am Dear Team, I see on a seperate thread that Avianca celebrates its 89th Birthday this week, which was a complete surprise to me as I did not realise that they had been operating that long - Congratulations to them!

I then began to wonder who is the oldest operating Airline today - as I was always of the belief that KLM was the oldest operating Airline. You can also break it down into Region: -World -Africa -Middle East Please do not include Airlines that no longer operate, however if they have merged with another carrier please advise all details. I would be very interested to see what you all come up with. Thanks DJMEL #2 Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:42 am OP (Chalk's International Airlines, formerly Chalk's Ocean Airways) was formed way back in 1917. Recently though, it went through a sort of restructuring after the crash of one of its Turbo Mallards, so I don't know if you can technically count it since the airline was renamed, although mostly the same airline. Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:32 am A loaded question that has a lot of different answers depending on how you look at things. Chalks as mentioned above was indeed the first airline in the world, however it does not boast the longest continuous service and of course since restructure it now operates under another name.

KLM 2nd oldest airline or is it? The assets were bought by an Air France led consortium May 5th 2004 and incorporated on that day. The history dates back to October 1919 but the entity we see today is not even 5 years old. Avianca as stated above is celebrating 89 years, however 89 years ago there was no airline called Avianca, that name came later. Qantas November 1920 and still Qantas 2008, hmmmmmmm your call! Sabena goes back to the 20's too if I remember but as you said not valid as it is no longer in operation and SN brussels is not Sabena. I remember when the DC-3 was new! Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:48 am For the United States; The original version of Delta Airlines began flying in May of 1924, but was a crop dusting service at first. They began passenger service in 1928, but suspended that in 1930. They restarted passenger service in August of 1934.

United began flying in April of 1926 as an airmail airline, Varney Airlines. They began carrying passengers in 1930. Northwest started in September of 1926, just a few months after the start of United. They began carrying passengers earlier than any of the others though, in 1927. And finally Hawaiian Airlines began flying mail and passengers at the same time, November of 1929. HA is the only one of the group to have flown continuously as a passenger airline, and is the only one of them that hasn't merged with another airline along the way. HAL One smooth landing is skill. Two in a row is luck. Three in a row and someone is lying. #11 Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:45 pm Mexicana has had the same brand for 87+ years.

It has been its parent companies that have changed name: Compañía Mexicana de Transportación Aérea, Compañía Mexicana de Aviación, Pan American World Airways, Corporación Mexicana de Aviación, Grupo Falcón, Compañía Mexicana de Aviación (again), CINTRA, Grupo Mexicana, etc. Very few have gone under the same brand since they began operations. Not only has it had its one and only brand for 87+ years, but it has provided uninterrupted service since, something that few others can brag about since many wars and events have interrupted their service. Mexicana, the first foreign airline to serve LAX , has recently celebrated 70 years of uninterrupted LAX service under the same brand. Other than the Chalk's seaplane Florida-Bahamas airbridge there is nothing comparable to Mexicana in North America. And for the rest of the Americas I challenge any other living airline to have: 1.-87+ years of uninterrupted service. 2.-87+ years of uninterrupted service in its inaugural route ( MEX -TAM) 3.-87+ years of operations under the same brand.

(The Avianca brand is 68+ years old) 4.-78+ years of international service. 5.-72+ years of uninterrupted service to/from LAX . 6.-48+ years of jet service. - AND - 7.-Full continental coverage with its own metal from Canada to Argentina. Any other one can be the oldest, but this makes Mexicana the first! My other plane is an A380. Quoting JEdward ( Reply 14 ): UA was tied to Varney? I had always thought Varney was the predecessor of CO before Six took over and changed the name. Yes, the original Varney Air Lines was the oldest of the carriers that merged to form United. The others were National Air Transport, Pacific Air Transport, and Boeing Air Transport. The four of them formed the core of the new United Airlines. Varney (after the merger) formed another airline - Varney Speed Lines - which ended up becoming Continental. HAL One smooth landing is skill. Two in a row is luck. Three in a row and someone is lying.

Quoting TN486 ( Reply 9 ): Oldest continuance is QANTAS, KLM is now owned by Air France since 2001 It is funny you should say that. I recently had a big discussion with my mother (an ex-KLM stewardess) who believes on the same line as you. However, I have to say that I disagree. Although the holding company of Air France (Groupe Air France) has taken over KLM, it does not mean it is no longer the same company, it merely has a new, albeit a French, owner. KLM and Air France both have two seperate operating licenses - both KLM and Air France operate as two seperate entities with two different identities, catering for two different markets. In the end KLM is still very much a Dutch run airline that the Dutch people can be very proud of. Some of you may not agree, but this is my personal opinion. If we look at the case with Delta and Northwest, it is a different situation. NW will become DL , and the NW identity will dissapear. Personally I don't see KLM aircraft being painted in AF colours any time soon. ALLARD.

Quoting TN486 ( Reply 9 ): Oldest continuance is QANTAS, KLM is now owned by Air France since 2001 To be fair, the QANTAS from 1920 isn't the same company we now know as QANTAS. It seems the company that we now know as QANTAS has its origins from QANTAS Empire Airways Ltd. (est. 1934) which was a company jointly owned by the original QANTAS and BOAC. This company was later bought from QANTAS and BOAC by the Australian government after the war. How is that any more continuous than KLM, which still operates as a separate airline with a separate license etc. and which is simply under the ownership of a holding company which also happens to own Air France (and Transavia etc.)? Quoting Bmacleod ( Reply 23 ): However QANTAS has the longest continuous service worldwide. According to Wikipedia, KLM continued operations in the Netherlands Antilles during the war. Was this a separate brand or subsidiary?

Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:50 pm Ok so to recap according to the list and some other accounts: WORLD: KLM/Qantas (Debatable due to KLM stopped operations during WWII and due to its merge with AF although they are still operating under the same brand) ASIA/PACIFIC: Qantas EUROPE: KLM/Aeroflot (Debatable due to same reasons as above) MIDDLE EAST: Oldest I could find was Saudi Arabian founded in 1945 AFRICA: Also oldest I could find was Ethiopian also in 1945 Anyone care to double check the Middle East & Africa? Also, should we divide ASIA & The PACIFIC? Congrats to KLM/QANTAS & MEXICANA for being around for sooooo long! Hopefully they will stick around till the end of times! Best, #32 Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:26 pm KLM without question is the oldest airline operating today and the question of ownership is an issue in legal terms.

KLM as part of the KLM-Air France group was Incorporated on May 5th 2004 as a new airline using the original operating license. However as operations continued as normal with some route changes and no livery change no one would question it as the same carrier. That being said in the original merger deal the brand name of KLM was guaranteed till the end of 2008. After December 31st, Air France could change everything about KLM if it wanted to, Name Colours Identity. Not that they will but they can. Qantas on the other hand has had several changes of ownership from the original outback Queensland air service to the Qantas Empire Airways, The government owned Qantas, and now the privately owned Qantas we have today. However unlike KLM Qantas was never re-incorporated. This may change soon however as Qantas is in advanced talks with British Airways to form a "KLM-Airfrance" style Merger. Also keen to talk about a similar deal with Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines. Possibly with all four carriers ultimately in a mega merger with each carrier maintaining their own identity. I remember when the DC-3 was new!

#35 Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:18 pm I read in an article abot the proposed QF /BA merger that either Imperial Airlines or the original British Airways (Which merged into B.O.A.C. then back to the Current BA with BEA) started operations sometime 1919 I got this from a newspaper so I wouldn't be surprised it this is incorrect. If this is true does this mean that the worlds oldest airline can be debated into BA 's favour afterall they can trace their origins to 1919 albeit with various name changes over the years. Did B.O.A.C. ever stop passenger operations in WW2? Quantas Oh dear A.net crime #38 "There you go ladies and gentleman we're through Mach 1 the speed of sound no bumps no bangs... CONCORDE" #36 Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:34 pm KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (English for Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij. correct me if i'm wrong Airbuster) is the national airline of the Netherlands and is part of Air France-KLM. Based in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.

It operates domestic and worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo services to more than 90 destinations. Its main base is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. KLM is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. It has 30,118 employees (as of June 2008 ) And was founded in October 7 1919. ( sorry for repeating what you said CARST but seems right just to add that on) Quoting TN486 ( Reply 9 ): KLM is now owned by Air France since 2001 KLM merged with Air France in 2004! This created Air France-KLM (as you all know!!!) and is incorporated under French law with headquarters at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris, France. Both Air France and KLM continue to fly under their distinct brand names.( Again as you all know) The World's Oldest Airlines Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest Tumblr LinkedIn Reddit Email Print We tend to think about airlines as a relatively new industry. However, scheduled air transport services for passengers and cargo have been around since the beginning of the 20th century.

Actually, the first commercial passenger airline dates back to 1913, when a scheduled service between Tampa and St Petersburg operated by the St Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line opened. This feat, that would mean the beginning of one of the largest industries in the world was, however, short-lived; St Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line would cease operation only one year after taking off. However, there are still a few surviving airlines with over 90 years of experience uder their wings, literally. This is a short list with the 3 oldest airlines in the world. KLM (1919) KLM is an abbreviation for Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V., or Royal Aviation Company. However, in English they use the name Royal Dutch Airlines, which gives a geographical dimension to the airline’s name. KLM is based in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, from there they operate passenger and cargo flights to over ninety destinations worldwide. It is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. The Dutch flagship carrier has over 32 thousand employees around the world.

In 2004, KLM merged with french airline Air France, thus creating the mega-group Air France-KLM, headquartered in the Parisian airport Charles de Gaulle. Although both airlines benefit from the synergies derived from their merger process, such as codesharing agreements and cost-saving policies, they continue operating under their respective brands from their hubs in Paris and Amsterdam. KLM is part of the SkyTeam Alliance. Avianca (1919) Avianca, an acronym for Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia is the flagship carrier of Colombia and one of the largest and most important airlines in Latin America. Avianca was founded in 1919 under the name SCADTA, this means it is the oldest still operating airline in the Americas. The Colombian airline is headquartered in Bogota’s El Dorado Airport, from where it operates routes to most countries in America and some European routes. Qantas (1920) Qantas Airways Limited is the largest airline in Australia. Its name is an acronym meaning “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services”.

The airline is also known by its quirky nickname The Flying Kangaroo, a reference to its logo, which until the 1980s actually was a winged kangaroo. It is headquartered in Sydney. Qantas was founded in 1920 and it is currently the oldest continuously operating airline in the world (KLM stopped operating during WWII). And the second oldest airline with the same name since its foundation. KLM: The 'world's oldest airline' turns 95 FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest KLM: The 'world's oldest airline' turns 95 Tuesday marks the 95th anniversary Dutch carrier KLM, the airline generally regarded as the world's oldest. The company was established on Oct. 7, 1919. The company commemorated the anniversary with a series Post to Facebook KLM: The 'world's oldest airline' turns 95 Tuesday marks the 95th anniversary Dutch carrier KLM, the airline generally regarded as the world's oldest. The company was established on Oct. 7, 1919.

The company commemorated the anniversary with a series Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 2 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs KLM: The 'world's oldest airline' turns 95 Ben Mutzabaugh , USA TODAY Published 3:17 p.m. ET Oct. 7, 2014 | Updated 3:31 p.m. ET Oct. 7, 2014 30 Shares (Photo: KLM) Tuesday marks the 95th anniversary of Dutch carrier KLM, the airline generally regarded as the world's oldest airline. The company was established on Oct. 7, 1919. KLM added a special "95 years" decal to one of its MD-11 jets, part of a series of KLM events this week meant to commemorate the occasion.

"Thanks to the efforts, pride, expertise and energy of our 33,000 employees, KLM is now the world's oldest airline still operating under its original name," Camiel Eurlings, CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, says in a statement . "I feel it is important that we celebrate this milestone. KLM is rooted in Dutch society and we all have KLM-blue blood coursing through our veins. We look to the coming years with confidence." The airline says it will also will add the special anniversary logo to one of each of the widebody aircraft models that make up its intercontinental fleet. KLM's fleet of long-haul aircraft includes Boeing 777, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 747 Combi and Airbus 330 aircraft. The MD-11 will carry the logo through mid-November while those on the other aircraft will last into April, according to KLM . KLM also used the 95th anniversary date to lay the first stone of the new KLM World Business Class Lounge its building at its hub in Amsterdam. The new lounge for KLM's intercontinental passengers is expected to open in 2016.

As it enters its 95th year of service, KLM is generally considered to be the world's oldest carrier still flying under its original name. Several airlines that preceded KLM's founding have been merged into aviation companies that still exist today, but none of those pre-1919 airline brands have survived. Of course, KLM itself merged with Air France in 2004 in a deal that created the Air France/KLM group. However, each airline continues to operate as a standalone unit under its own name and brand. Read or Share this story: Most Popular KLM Airlines Amsterdam Amsterdam » Transportation » Travel » Flights to Amsterdam » Airlines KLM Airlines KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij) is the national air carrier of the Netherlands, its name is literally translated as Royal Aviation Company but more usually as Royal Dutch Airlines. Founded on 7 October 1919, KLM is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. The merging of KLM with Air France in May 2004 created Air France-KLM; however both airlines continue to fly under distinct brand names.

KLM's main base is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the airline offers flights from here to numerous locations across the globe. Reservations KLM customers can book online at , taking advantage of the airlines lowest booking fee of EUR 10 per ticket. It is also possible to book tickets over the phone by calling KLM's customer service centre on +31 20 5459780. Booking over the phone carries a booking fee of EUR 25 per ticket within Europe, EUR 35 outside. If you prefer to speak face-to-face, KLM has numerous ticket offices internationally. These can be found via the KLM website and a booking fee of EUR 45 applies. Baggage Allowance Luggage allowance on KLM flights varies depending on the type of flight and its destination, usually different for intercontinental flights than those within Europe. In general checked baggage allowance with KLM starts at a maximum of 20 kg for Economy passengers and 30 kg for Business Class passengers. Passengers should visit the Checked Baggage Allowance section of the KLM website for more details.

Hand Baggage The size and weight restrictions for hand baggage with KLM are one piece of L55 x W25 x H35 cm weighing not more than 12 kg for Economy passengers. Business Class passengers are allowed one piece of maximum L55 x W25 x H35 cm and one piece smaller than L45 x W20 x H35 cm, with a maximum combined weight of 18 kg. Flying Blue Flying Blue is KLM's frequent flyer programme. Flyers earn miles by travelling with KLM or other members of Sky Team such as Air France, Kenya Airways or Air Europa. Each mile flown grants the customer one Award Mile and one Level Mile. Award miles are used to claim rewards such as hotel tickets and car rental offers. Level miles are used to move to higher levels in Flying Blue's membership, with each level granting additional benefits over the one below. Popular Routes KLM flies to hundreds of destinations around the globe; the airline's top five destination cities according to their website are: London, Paris, New York, Rome and Barcelona.

Flights UK to Amsterdam KLM flights to London operate 19 times daily, with 11 flights to Heathrow and 8 to London's City Airport. Current earliest flights are at 07:10 to City Airport and 07:15 to Heathrow, the latest flight is at 20:25 to London Heathrow. KLM flights from Amsterdam Schiphol to London have an average duration of 1 hour 20 minutes. Flights Paris to Amsterdam Flights with KLM from Amsterdam Schiphol to Paris' Charles De Gaulle Airport run 12 times daily. Flights operate between 06:50 and 20:50 and have an expected duration of 1 hour 15 minutes. KLM flights to New York operate 4 times daily for direct flights and 7 times daily indirectly, via Paris Charles De Gaulle and Detroit Wayne County. Direct flights have an expected duration from 7 hours 50 minutes to 8 hours 40 minutes, while indirect flights range from 10 hours 20 minutes to 13 hours 20 minutes.

KLM flights to Rome operate between Amsterdam Schiphol and Rome's Flumicino Airport 4 times daily. Earliest current flights are at 06:55 and latest at 20:20. Flights are direct and should be expected to last an average of 2 hours 20 minutes. Flights from Amsterdam to Barcelona with KLM operate 6 times daily direct and 8 times daily indirect via Paris Charles De Gaulle. Direct flights operate between 06:50 and 20:35 with an expected duration of 2 hours 10 minutes. Indirect flights start at 07:25 and can take from 3 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 40 minutes. Contacts © Copyright 2014 Faegeek All Right Reserved A few words about KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on 7 October, 1919 to serve the Netherlands and its colonies. KLM is today the oldest airline still operating under its original name. KLM Deals About Us KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on 7 October, 1919 to serve the Netherlands and its colonies.

KLM is today the oldest airline still operating under its original name. KLM has been part of the AIR FRANCE KLM group since the merger in 2004. KLM operates scheduled passenger and cargo services to more than 130 destinations worldwide. It is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. As of 2013 it had 32,505 employees. KLM's headquarters is in Amstelveen near its hub at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Checked Baggage Allowances Each Economy passenger is allowed to carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse or briefcase. Assistive devices and outer garments do not count as personal items.

All carry-on luggage must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements: Maximum Dimensions of Carry-on Luggage: 21.5in x 10in x 13.5in/55cm x 25cm x 35cm (length x width x height) Maximum Weight of Carry-on Luggage: 26 lb/12 kg 100+ Why book with KLM Actual Best Price Guarantee Our prices are better than good. They're guaranteed! We're confident you'll find the best prices here on Faregeek in fact, we guarantee it. Fast Booking Process We offers a clean and clutter free website, which is fast to load and offering an easy 4-step booking process. Secure Technology We use an extra level of security for Visa and MasterCard payments, which protects you from the unauthorized use of your credit card. 3-D Secure technology Industry Leading We have teamed up with the leading airlines to bring you the cheap flight offers. Compare and book always with the lowest discounted prices and save. Helpful & Cheerful Customer Service The Staff and Management take great pride in providing Helpful & Cheerful customer service.

Supporting We are able to offer customers a bespoke product range which provides services, systems and processing support to airlines. Call 1-888-856-9327 for deals too good to be published. Here are what some our customers are saying about us: Oct. 7, 1919: Dutch airline KLM is founded Oct. 7, 1919: Dutch airline KLM is founded Christy Karras Pin it Share KLM Royal Dutch Airlines grew out of the aviation fascination that followed World War I. After a 1919 exhibition in the Netherlands that showed off the possibilities inherent in flight, Queen Queen Wilhelmina awarded Albert Plesman the official royal blessing to start a Dutch airline, and KLM was officially founded later that year. The airline had its first flight the next spring from London to Amsterdam . Within a few years, it was flying all the way to Indonesia, then a Dutch colony (in the photo above, a group poses before a 1932 flight from Indonesia to the Netherlands). But it was best known for flying all over Europe. Eventually, it formed a partnership with Northwest Airlines in the U.S., increasing the connections between the U.S. and Europe.

The oldest airline still operating under its original name, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is usually called simply KLM, for Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (you can see why KLM is easier). One of the airline’s quirks: It gives business-class passengers and other VIPs drinks served in blue and white miniature Delft pottery houses representing traditional Dutch homes. The house’s design changes every year on Oct. 7. Interestingly, another global airline was also formed on October 7. In 1933, a handful of French airlines joined forces to become Air France. Reblog Schiphol Airport – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Orientation[ edit ] Entrance Schiphol is divided in many different zones. The ground floor before passport control has the entrance of the airport, the railway station (with the platforms underground), the four Arrivals halls, and Schiphol Plaza, the central shopping zone. On the 1st floor you can find the check-in desks and Departure Halls 1, 2 and 3. From this floor you can go to passport control and enter the transit area.

The area after passport control is known as Schiphol World Avenue and has four sections: Lounge 1, Lounge 2, Holland Boulevard and Lounge 3. Holland Boulevard is the area's central plaza with a casino and a museum. Gates B-H can be accessed from all of these lounges. Lounge 4 for low-cost carriers is completely separated and only connects with gate M. It has very few facilities. History[ edit ] Schiphol opened on 16 September 1916 as a military airbase, with a few barracks and a field serving as platform and runways. When civil aircraft started to use the field (17 December 1920), it was often called Schiphol-les-bains. The Fokker aircraft manufacturer started a factory near Schiphol Airport in 1919. Schiphol's name is derived from a former fortification named Fort Schiphol which was part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam. Before 1852, the Haarlemmermeer polder in which the airport lies was a large lake, in the shallow waters of which sudden violent storms could claim many ships. This was the main reason for reclaiming it.

In English, Schiphol translates to 'ship grave', a reference to the many ships lost in the area. KLM was founded on 7 October 1919 by Albert Plesman, making it the oldest carrier in the world still operating under its original name, though the company stopped operating during World War II—apart from the operations in the Dutch Antilles in the Caribbean. The first KLM flight was on 17 May 1920, from Croydon Airport, London to Amsterdam carrying two British journalists and a number of newspapers. In 1921 KLM started scheduled services, and by 1926 it was offering flights to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Paris, London, Bremen, Copenhagen and Malmö. Intercontinental flights to the Netherlands East Indies started in 1929. This was for several years the world's longest scheduled air route. On 1 November 1958 the airline opened the trans-polar route from Amsterdam via Anchorage to Tokyo.

Each crew flying the transpolar route over the Arctic was equipped with a winter survival kit, including an AR-10 carbine for use against polar bears in the event the plane was forced down onto the polar ice. KLM merged with Air France in May 2004 to form Air France-KLM, but both airlines continue to fly under their distinct brand names. Flights[ edit ] KLM and its partner Delta Air Lines offer worldwide connections. Asia, Europe and North America are particularly well served. British Airways offer up to 15 flights per day to three airports in London. Transavia, Jet2, Easyjet and other low-cost carriers provide a fairly economical way to city-hop to Amsterdam from other cities in Europe. Schiphol has one giant terminal with all facilities under a single roof radiating from the central plaza (Holland Boulevard). The area is divided into three lounges designated 1, 2 and 3. Gates or concourses are connected to these lounges, but it is possible to walk from one gate to another, even to those connected to different lounges.

The exception to this is Lounge 4: it is connected to gate M for low-cost carriers, and once past security, passengers cannot access any other lounges or gates. Lounge 4 has very few facilities. Few airlines and destinations have a dedicated gate. KLM and Transavia use all gates except H and M. Lounge 1 consists of gates B and C, dedicated to Schengen areas. Lounge 2 consists of gates D and E. Gate D has two levels. The lower floor is used for non-Schengen flights, the upper floor for Schengen flights. Gate E is a dedicated non-Schengen area. Lounge 3 consists of gates F, G and H. They serve non-Schengen areas. Gate H is used by low-cost carriers. Lounge 4 consists of gate M, a dedicated Schengen area for low-cost carriers. Ground transportation[ edit ] For most travellers, the most convenient way to reach Amsterdam or other major destinations in the Netherlands from the airport is by train, with most destinations reachable either directly or with one transfer.

By train[ edit ] Train ticket machines at Schiphol Airport railway station Most major destinations in the Netherlands can be reached from Schiphol either directly or with a single transfer. Use the ticket machines or ticket desks. Not all machines accept credit or debit cards, and those that do require chip-and-PIN cards. Alternatively, you can buy an Amsterdam Travel Ticket , which includes a train return ticket to and from Schiphol to any of Amsterdam's stations, plus unlimited travel on all GVB trams, metro and (night)buses for 1, 2 or 3 days. The train station at Schiphol is located underground, under the main airport hall; trains to Amsterdam Centraal usually run from platform 1 or 2. Note: this is not specific, one is never sure which platform it arrives. Information signs are updated when the train enters the tunnel. It is the same platform, though it matters on which side the train stops. This is why you'll see a lot of locals and tourists waiting just at the end of the escalators or stairs. They eventually go to the right track when it is updated. For most destinations there are 1 or 2 trains per hour, for more regional destinations trains are more frequent.

There are 4 to 5 trains per hour between Schiphol and Amsterdam in peak times. Regional trains run all night, although between 1am and 5am only once an hour. The price and duration of the journey are the same as during the day. However, trains for further destinations will generally not run at night. Check before you travel. Many trains southbound from Amsterdam stop at Schiphol then continue on to Belgium or France . If you are going to one of those countries, it is usually possible to pick up a train direct from Schiphol. Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal . There are plenty of direct trains from the Schiphol to the Amsterdam Centraal. A journey takes 16-18 minutes. There are several train stations in Amsterdam and not every train stops at every station; note which station is closest to your accommodation. €4.20 if using an OV-chipkaart; €5.20 single-use card. (updated Jun 2016) By bus[ edit ] Amsterdam Airport Express (Bus #197). Connexxion operates a service between the airport and Museumplein, Rijksmuseum, and Leidseplein.

The bus is only worth taking if these stops are closer to your accommodation. Buses depart from platform B9 daily from 05:01-00:21 every approx. 15 minutes. In the nigh bus #97 runs the same route routhly every hour. €5,00 (from a driver); e-ticket €4,75 (single) €9,00 (return) or consider Amsterdam Travel Ticket . (updated Jun 2016) By taxi[ edit ] Do not use a taxi unless there is no alternative; travel to Schiphol by train or by bus, if possible. Taxis from Schiphol are expensive and priced unexpectedly. You pay around €7.50 (as of Oct 08) as a minimum charge and that includes the first 2 km. Then the meter starts racing. The ride costs about €40-50 to go to, say, the Leidseplein. Depending on the time of day and traffic levels, it could take only 25 min. If you're unlucky, it could take twice as long. Choose the nicest cab as that driver is more likely to be reputable.

You don't have to pick the first taxi in line. If possible, reserve a cab up-front [1] , this will ensure a fixed price for the ride. There is a way to get 50% discount on your ride to Amsterdam or 20% discount to other destinations. Here's how it works: Look for an upcoming TCA taxi (spot the roof light!) at the departure halls (on the first floor). Say 'hello' to the driver while the passengers step off. This works out for you and the driver as he's not allowed to wait for customers at the airport and this way he doesn't have to drive back empty. By shuttle service[ edit ] Connexxion Hotel Shuttle serves over 100 city centre hotels, with 8-seater shared van departures about every 30 minutes between 6 AM and 9 PM, cost to most city centre destinations €15.50/25.00 one-way/return—more convenient than the train if you have heavy luggage and still cheaper than a taxi. Buses depart from platform A7 and can be reserved for the trip back ☎ +31 38 3394741.

myDriver Amsterdam rides to/from the airport cost a fixed rate of €50 and has a meet and greet service inside the arrivals hall UberBlack rides to/from the airport cost a fixed rate of €60. Book Taxi Amsterdam has a convenient rate of 66€ from Schiphol Airport to city centre (including Meet & Greet) and only 54€ for a 8 pax minivan. Tinker offers transfers with an advance booking discount and calculates price per seat. Transfers are available from €9,95 and include a pickup from a TinkerBelle. Bookings are made via telephone ☎ +31 20 290 0050 or online. Amsterdam Airport Taxi Services has fixed rate Schiphol Airport transfers to or from the city centre at €49 for a Mercedes E class including a meet and greet special, €65 for a minivan. By rental car[ edit ] If you plan to rent a car for the duration of your stay, Schiphol has several car rental companies on site [2] . Typical opening hours are 6AM-11PM daily.

The car rental desk can be found in Schiphol Plaza, on the same level as the Arrivals. The A4 motorway leads straight from Schiphol to the Amsterdam ring road A10, in about 10 min. By bike[ edit ] If you decided to bring your bicycle on the plane with you, there is a 15-kilometer sign-posted bike route from the airport to Amsterdam. Turn right as you leave the airport terminal: the cycle path starts about 200 metres down the road. There is a map of the cycle paths around Schiphol available on this PDF (green lines are cycle paths). Get around[ edit ] The airport is large, but you can only get around on foot (and travelator). Expect to walk long distances, especially if arriving on an international flight and connecting to another... likely in another terminal. If you are entering the European Union, you must go through customs and immigration as well as security processing. During busy times (often) this can take 20-30 or more minutes than just walking to an assigned departure gate. Choose flights with adequate connection times.

Wait[ edit ] Before passport control[ edit ] Panorama Terrace (Panoramaterras), 3F (go upstairs from Schiphol Plaza between Arrivals 1 and 2 or at Arrivals 3). Nov-Mar 09:00-17:00, Apr-Oct 07:00-20:00. The panorama terrace at the top floor oversees planes arriving and leaving gates C, D, E and F. Bring your camera or use the telescopes. A Fokker 100 airplane is displayed on the terrace; it has a tiny museum inside about the history of Fokker, the largest Dutch airplane manufacturer. Especially fun for children. There are restaurants and bars on and around the terrace (smoking allowed). Free. Sheraton Fitness & Spa , Sheraton Hotel, Schiphol Boulevard 101 (between Schiphol Plaza and the World Trade Center), ☎ +31 20 316-4300 . 24 hours daily (sauna, steam room 06:00-23:00).

You can get a day pass for an unlimited use of the fitness room, sauna, rainforest showers, steam room and wellness area. €20/day. After passport control[ edit ] Airport Library, Holland Boulevard, Schiphol World Avenue (between gates E and F). The world's first airport library. Reading books and listening to music is mostly done digitally, using tablet computers. You can download the books to your own digital device for reading on your journey. An interesting way to learn more about Dutch culture and literature. Free. Airport Park , Lounge 1, Schiphol World Avenue (above gate D). Who would expect a city park right inside an airport terminal? Obviously, it's not an ordinary city park, as the butterflies are projected onto the walls, and the sounds of nature come from the park's speakers. Still, it's the most tranquil environment you'll find in an airport serving millions of travelers each year. Free. Holland Casino, Holland Boulevard, Schiphol World Avenue (between gates E and F). 06:30-19:30 daily. A full casino within the airport's terminal walls. Free lockers are provided for hand baggage.

A boarding card and valid ID are required for entry, 18+ only. Free. Rijksmuseum, Holland Boulevard, Schiphol World Avenue (between gates E and F). 07:00-20:00 daily. Since 9 December 2002 Schiphol has an annex of the acclaimed Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in its terminal. The permanent exhibition displays ten works by well-known painters from the Dutch Golden Age (17th century). The temporary exhibition changes a few times a year. Souvenirs are available at the museum shop. Free. Eat and Drink[ edit ] There are plenty of cafes and restaurants at the airport, both before and after passport control. Most are quite expensive, so the fast-food joints are the only option if you're on a budget. Burger King, Schiphol Plaza. 24 hours. Not just your average Burger King, this is the busiest one in the world with 1.3 million visitors a year. It has never closed since its opening in 1993. But the menu is the still the same. Burgers. €. McDonald's Lounge 2 , Lounge 2, Schiphol World Avenue.

05:30-21:00 daily. €. McDonald's Lounge 3 , Lounge 3, Schiphol World Avenue. 06:00-22:00 daily. €. There are drinking water fountains available throughout the airport, but in the majority of cases these are located before security checks. If you want to fill your empty water bottle after security checks: this might be possible depending on the gate. On piers H and M, toilets are available with cold drinking water, all the way at the end of the pier. At the other piers, the security checks are often arranged by gate, where each gate has its own after-security zone. Depending on the size of this zone, which can be just a waiting room, there might or might not be toilets and taps available. Buy[ edit ] The most important thing you need to remember in these European airports is the duty laws for the nation it applies to. There are many shopping options in the airport, though. 52.310073 4.762895 1 Albert Heijn. (updated Jun 2016) Cope[ edit ] Left luggage .

Coin-operated storage lockers are located along the main hallway through the transit/departure area, across from the start of the E wing. From €6 per 24 hr, maximum one week. (updated Jun 2016) Sleep[ edit ] 52.309394 4.755806 1 citizenM Amsterdam Airport , Jan Plezierweg 2, ☎ +31 20 811-7080 . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. A modern budget hotel with trendy design rooms. Every room has Wi-Fi access, films-on-demand and an LCD television. €69-€120. Mercure , Lounge 3, Schiphol World Avenue, ☎ +31 20 820-1850 . The only full-fledged hotel after passport control. It can only be booked if you are on transit. €85-95.

Stay safe[ edit ] Watch out for pickpockets and baggage thieves on trains: a common trick is a knock on your window to distract you, so that an accomplice can steal your luggage or laptop. Another one is to have an accomplice jam the doors and then steal your luggage. The thief jumps out and the door immediately closes, making it impossible to catch them. However, in recent years, railway police have made a great effort to reduce this sort of crime; nowadays it is at 'normal', big-city like levels. It however is recommended not to leave your baggage unattended. This is also announced in the station regularly. Nearby[ edit ] Schiphol was built on reclaimed land, and so are the suburban cities around it. Hoofddorp is the closest town, but it only has a few hotels that could be of use. The most popular attractions for tourists are in Amsterdam , a 20 minute train ride. This huge airport travel guide to Schiphol Airport is a usable article. It has information on flights and ground transportation as well as some complete entries for food and beverage options at the airport. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page .

Question: The oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name was founded in 1919, which is it?
Answer: KLM